This sounds so good!‏

Melanie wrote: I make this, but without so much garlic and no cayenne pepper. We top it with cheddar cheese as well. Very good. If you add a cup of frozen corn, it becomes similar to a corn chowder.
Mel

Baked Potato Soup

More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow (Hyperion, 2010) can serve as lunch, a first course, or a warm-up to a hearty dinner. Top the soup with bacon, green onions, or chives for an extra flavor kick.
Ingredients:
5 pounds potatoes, peeled and diced in 1- to 2-inch chunks
1 small onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 quarts chicken broth
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese
Crumbled bacon, green onion, or chives as garnish (optional)

Directions:
1. Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Put the potatoes into your stoneware insert, and add the onion and garlic. Sprinkle in the seasonings and pour in the chicken broth. Cover and cook on low for eight hours, or on high for four hours. The potatoes should be fork-tender. You can use a potato masher or a handheld stick blender to mash the potatoes into the soup. You want to get rid of all large chunks of potato to make a smooth soup.
2. After smashing the potatoes, squeeze in both packages of cream cheese and replace the lid of your cooker. Cook on high for about 30 minutes, or until the cream cheese is completely dissolved, stirring a few times during this 30 minutes.
3. Garnish with crumbled bacon, green onion, or chives.
Serves 10

Myrna wrote: How about sharing the recipe? I am soup-hungry and you are a good soup-maker.

The Visit

So this week we had the opportunity of having Elder D. Todd Christofferson visit Nicaragua, and the missionaries of the Nicaragua Managua North Mission. We were not blessed with a lot of time with him, the time we had was rather amazing. All week was spent doing reports, preparing a little bit of information about the mission for Elder Christofferson, Elder Falabella and Elder Duarte (both members of the Quorum of the Seventy). Then I had another practice with the choir that I was directing/singing in. Very chaotic week, mainly because I was trying to do like twelve things all at the same time.

Then Thursday came. We got up early got all spiffed up, got to the chapel early. I practiced a little bit with the choir (because they decided to put mics up at the last minute, so we had to see how it sounded with the mics...LAME). When the meeting finally started I was so tired, yet as the meeting got going I was filled with energy and excitement to hear an Apostle of the Lord speak to me. The choir I was in sang "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" and it was fantastic. A number of people spoke, then Elder Christofferson stood up and first told us that as a choir we sang the best of any group of missionaries he had seen in the world. I cried a little bit. I was so nervous that the song was not going to sound like we would like it to sound, but apparently he was thoroughly impressed. What a miracle of faith that was.

He didn't really prepare a message for us, he simply wanted to answer any questions we might have had that he could answer for us. So, as a result we discussed the meaning of a testimony and conversion. In short, someone may have a testimony but may not be fully converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I never thought of it like that; often times we believe that the two come hand in hand, yet they do not. For instance, someone may say that they know that the Book of Mormon is true, but if they have a problem with the knowledge of living prophets, or do not pay their tithing, they are not truly converted. He told us that one easy way to know if we have been truly converted to the gospel if the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. If we have Him as our constant guide/help, it is evident that we are living in a way such that we are blessed to have a member of the Godhead dwell within us, to guide us, inspire us and comfort us.

Before leaving Nicaragua, Elder Christofferson made a statement to the Mission President about the mission. He said that he is content with the work that we are doing, and that we need to simply continue baptising families. He also said that when he walked into the chapel, he could feel the Spirit very strongly and that upon seeing our faces he was stunned. He said that there was a glow about the missionaries, and some of them truly shined. Something like "sus rostros brillaron", i.e. their countenances shone. It made me happy thinking that our mission made so much of an impact on him, hopefully he saw a bit of light in me too! :)

This week we have hit a milestone in the mission. We have baptized 68 families as a mission (282 baptisms). That is amazing. We have the highest amount of families baptized per mission in all of Latin America, quite possibly the world. I was AMAZED. We have been wanting this goal since October, and we have achieved it. Now I'm just finishing up some reports for the mission and making sure that they can be updated easier. But, OH MY GOSH. I was working on some reports Sunday evening and I noticed something odd...so I opened almost every single monthly report since June 2009. Upon reviewing the information I realized that every single month had problems with formulae, with numbers from the mission, and that every 3-6 months the entire format would change. I started thinking about how I might POSSIBLY be able to get around that problem, and I realized that the only way to do that would be to go through the baptismal registries that we have in another room (the dungeon) of the office. And, due to the limited time left (changes are next Tuesday), I am forced to just enter the poor information into the reports. Oh well, they just want them done, and I guess I'll finish them with the information that they have so graciously given me.

Well family, friends, countrymen, students.......I love you all so much. Thank you for your support and your love and prayers. I love this country, I love this Gospel, I love my Saviour and I know that He lives. I love the Book of Mormon and all of the wonderful stories, revelation and doctrine that is contains.

Until...well, Saturday! (hopefully I will actually get to email this Saturday)

From Erin

Hey grandma you should be getting a present in the mail soooooooon for yours and granpas birthday. it probebely wont get to you till soon its for your guyses birthday. we would have sent it earlier but we couldnt becuz we didnt have a box. well the forward part is becuz at school we are doing a fundraser called jump rope for heart. it takes heart to be a hero. you see its all about the ppl who cnt afford their heart surrgery like micha he is 8 and his heart  needed to be fixed so they had to put a tube into his throught to his heart. and jassly she is 9 and can only dream about playing basketball and riding her bike and also skating. Matt is 6 yrs and he has had heart surrgery 3 times. and Kaelyn is 6 yrs and she is a heart surrgery surviver. These ppl have special hearts and they need your help. So go americanheart.org/jump and change a life. if you dnt want to do this thats ok but plz pass on the word becuz these kids need your help and they need our help.
                                                                                         love your grandauhgter
                                                                                                 erin (D) lanora trauntvein


Myrna wrote: Thank you! I love your note and all of the faces, flowers, kisses and love. You are a special girl. You didn't even hint at what that present might be. So now we will just have to wonder.

I will go to the americanheart.org/jump and change a life. I will also tell everyone else about it. It sounds like a good thing to do.

We love you very much and we miss getting to see you very often. Hug your brothers for us and give yourself a hug from us.

Erin wrote: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WELL ME AND DONOVIN DID WORK HARD ON THE PRESENTS AND THE CARD. WE ARE SOOO GLAD THAT YOU LOVE THEM AND ARE WEARING THEM WITH PRIDE! and i dooo think it is wonderfule that we all are changing lives. it is a wonderfule site and fundraiser. donovin and i miss you too a lot so hav us in your mind and we will have you in our mind forever. we all love you lots and lots aand lost! Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was our stake conference.

They released our stake patriarch, Clark Greenhalgh, from active duty. He, of course, will always be a patriarch but he will not give blessings except to his family. The new stake patriarch is Alan Kenison, who is also a temple sealer. He will do both jobs. All of his family was present. Can you imagine? He can give blessings to his grandchildren and can also marry them in the temple. He is such a wonderful man. That is one of those calls that you know comes from Heavenly Father.

Phyllis Kenison, Dale's wife, was also sustained as a counselor in the new stake Relief Society Presidency. Dale is also a temple sealer.

The Office

So, special assignment Elder Bolton here for the update on the work here in the office. Here, things are so much more different than the real mission field. I have a love/hate relationship with the work here, as I am sat in front of a computer typing up LOTS of reports. I have gotten to know every area here in the mission, and now I am getting to know every single missionary. I am doing a lot of reports and seeing lots of numbers and as a result have gone slightly mad, just a little. ;) But I have realized something, I do not think that I could do a serious office job. I might die. Being stuck in front of a computer all day looking at reports, numbers, calling people about missing information, getting blamed for discrepancies when I use the numbers that I'm given. Yeah, stuff like that. Yet I would not trade these experiences for anything. Anyway, I am thinking about changing whatever idea I had about going into business. My life lies beyond the confines of an office and a computer, I believe.

I have been reading my Patriarchal Blessing a lot more frequently as well. I find it rather interesting that two brief pages can keep my so entertained and so happy. I am grateful for the fountain of revelation that comes from such a sacred document. I am also grateful for the Book of Mormon as I know that it truly is the word of God and that it has the power to help us to change our lives. I learn so much from reading just one chapter a day that I am amazed how many parts of my life can become better based on serious application of the lessons in the Book of Mormon.

I also have to admit how much fun I have had here with the other Secretary and the Financier. We are currently in a trio, but it is so much fun. It is interesting how relationships are formed so fast in the mission and how three missionaries can get to be such good friends in a week's time. On our P-Day (Saturday) we played tennis, we went out and got Sushi while the APs and President were gone in Matagalpa. In short, we are tight like unto a dish. ;) We get along really well, and we have fun teaching the few investigators that we have.

Well, I shall take lots of new photos thanks to the new camera that I have (thanks Mom and Dad)! You should all enjoy them so very much. 

Love ya lots,

Elder B

Wondering

Myrna wrote: Dad keeps thinking that with the skills of Brandon, Todd and Howard, there might be a way to set up a business that all of these men in vulnerable jobs might be good at. They would be the owners and would make a good living but would not be beholden to business owners because they would be the owners.

I always remember that my grandmother would say, "Never go into business with friends because, when you are done, they won't be."

AnnMarie wrote: Even if you started a business, they would be vulnerable.  So many start-ups fold every day.  Look a Brandon's brother Kalen, he lost everything.  There are no guarantees.  In fact, since Todd and Brandon are still employed at a great pay, they might be even more vulnerable leaving that for a start-up.   

www.ldsjobs.org

Myrna sent: LDS Conference Preview: Church offers help to job seekers

If you have found yourself out of work recently, are looking to improve your skills, or are returning to the work force after raising a family, a website offered through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may be able to help.

The new site, www.ldsjobs.org, is designed to help people find resources to improve their situation, said Brenda Smith, manager of the website.

The site offers hundreds of tips, articles and information about how to approach a job search, how to choose a field of study and how to improve your job performance.

Melanie wrote: Thanks. Howard filled out the form in November or December. He has been checking with them every week. The Employment Specialist Missionaries for our area are going to be in our ward next week. Howard has an appointment with them already. 

Thanks Mom.

Mel

Wonder

Myrna wrote: Are you feeling better after a few days of adjustment? Dad and I just want you to remember that we love you. 

I don't know whether you read my reply to your email or not. I hope you know that it was sent with great love and concern. I admire you so very much. You are a great woman. I would like to be more like you and I just wanted you to know that. I will always love you!!!!!

Melanie wrote: Still reeling from the blow. I am not crying so much anymore. I never cry around Howard, as he feels so horrible about letting me down, that I don't need to add to his worry. Church was a help. The temple opens tomorrow (but because of young women stuff I won't be able to go), Howard and I have a breakfast date to go on Wednesday morning. 27 years of marriage has taught me a few things, but this one is so new, I will be looking for clues daily. 

Thank you for your encouragement and your love. This is a lot more tough than any of the illnesses that have ever faced me. I am trying to figure out why I can't fight it like I have everything else...

Love, 

Mel

Question

I did get BOTH cards! Thank you so much for the money grandma! It helps get some really good food out here (seriously, a Sushi roll at a nice restaurant is like $5)!

On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 12:27 AM, L H and Myrna Trauntvein wrote:

Did you get the Christmas card and the money?

Did you hear? Auntie Julie is having a baby giraffe? That's what Stephanie told me. "Guess what, Grammy, Mommy is having a baby giraffe."

Lots of love, Grammy and Gramps

Be of Good Cheer

Myrna wrote: We are willing to take over the payments for Bradon's mission. We love you dearly. You stood by us all of the times we needed you.


Melanie wrote: Julie offered to help as well. We are okay for now and need the blessings of paying for Braden's mission. If Howard doesn't find work in the near future, we might need to have help with the mission payments. Julie and Jim offered to help as well. So did AnnMarie and Brandon.

Thanks Mom. My heart hurts, my head hurts, my stomach hurts...I am so scared.

Mel


Myrna wrote: If you remember, Dad and I faced a bad situation many years ago. I think it was when Benjamin (or was it Braden) was born. Dr. Wright didn't want Dad to be principal any more  and, instead, wanted him to be a high school counselor and the district director of risk management with the charge of bringing the district into ADA compliance. Dad was really qualified for those jobs. I cried all the way home from Nebraska. Actually, looking back, it may have been for the best. Dad loved the jobs and there was not the constant pressure. Our income did not suffer. The next principal proved what an excellent one Dad was. Dad brought the district into compliance with the new requirements for the disabled. He also started some innovative career counseling programs that have benefitted district students. We are praying that this will also be a "closed door--open window" in your lives. Howard is so brilliant and so talented and knows so many things that I am sure he will find something even better. I've wondered for years why he wasn't a teacher. I know, the pay is not as good, but he would be so great at a college. He could even be a professional photographer. I think that your choices are limitless. In addition, you, yourself, are bright and young. You can do many things. You can go back to your job, that you loved, working with old people (like me).

I still remember what a comfort you were to me then. You were not only my loving daughter but my good friend when I badly needed one. Thanks for all you are to me.

I love you, Dad loves you, your siblings love you and, most importantly, Heavenly Father loves you and so does your Savior. We are all in your corner. I know that the members of your ward are grateful for you and love you as well. You have made them part of your family and they will be good to you now.

Jim said the best thing that ever happened to him was the year that his father didn't have a job. He grew up and faced reality. Perhaps that will be so in the lives of your children. Although, I am certain, Howard will not be without work for that long. He was looking for a job when he found this one. I hope this doesn't sound like a long note of platitudes. I really believe what I am writing.

Just remember, when it comes to the mission, we ALL need the blessings that come to our family from Braden's service.

Go take a couple of aspirin, pray and then just stand back and watch the miracles.